Ashraf Nu’man scored a hat-trick as India’s dreams of advancing the Fifa rankings took a hit with Palestine registering a 4-2 victory in the international friendly at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Wednesday.

Sania Mirza and Bethanie Mattek-Sands are having a ball together. Having started the year with a bang, winning the season-opening Brisbane, they faltered in the first round at the Australian Open. But it’s their ability to laugh the blues away and come back stronger that makes them a distinct duo.

For several years the government in India have maintained a good relation with Palestine, but never before, have they shook hands on a football pitch. That much-awaited first time will be at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here when India host Palestine in an international friendly on Wednesday.

Unlike the Men in Blue, the women cricketers get their share of recognition once every four years when they participate in the World Cup.

An India call-up and regaining form will be on the mind of players from both sides when Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai host Rest of India in the five-day Irani Cup match starting at the Wankhede Stadium here from Wednesday.

Falling for the fifth straight day, the BSE benchmark Sensex today closed 20 points lower after wiping out initial gains on a bout of profit-selling in bluechips like NTPC, CIL, ICICI Bank and L&T.

Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai’s pace spearhead Dhawal Kulkarni said today ahead of his maiden five-day Irani Cup clash against the Rest of India that he has added a few yards to his pace and a few variations too, which have worked well for him this season.

Michael Clarke, who was signed by Pune Warriors India in the 2013 IPL auctions, may lead the side in the sixth edition of the cash-rich tournament ahead of the team’s icon player Yuvraj Singh.

IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla on Sunday said that the BCCI was not against Pakistan players as yet another IPL auction went away without the involvement of the neighbours.

While three-time World Cup winner Ricky Ponting and his sensational successor Michael Clarke were paid scant attention, India’s business tycoons threw in a surprise by engaging in a tug-of-war over an obscure Aussie. This is IPL auction and established names do not always sell!